Swinging slide panel construction



p 2-, 1969 L. v. HEWITT ET AL 3,464,159

SWINGING SLIDE PANEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 17, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1969 w ET AL 3,464,159

SWINGING SLIDE PANEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 17, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS AT/UR/VEV Sept. 2, 1969 v. HEWITT ET AL 3,464,159

SWINGING SLIDE PANEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 17, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zen/v V. f/ew/ flee J. //0/' fan INVENTORS ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1969 L. v. HEWITT ET AL 3,464,159

SWINGING SLIDE PANEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 17, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .an m

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,464,159 SWINGING SLIDE PANEL CONSTRUCTION Lew V. Hewitt and Dee D. Horton, Corpus Christi, Tex., assignors to Horton Automatic, Inc., Corpus Christi, T ex., a corporation of Texas Filed Oct. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 675,965 Int. Cl. Ed 15/06, 15/58, 15/48 US. Cl. 49-177 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A swinging slide panel construction adapted for sliding movement along a predetermined path and for swinging movement away from the aforesaid path. It is particularly useful in connection with automatic entrances of the sliding door type, which are used extensively in grocery stores and the like.

This invention relates to a swinging slide panel construction wherein the sliding panel is adapted for sliding along a predetermined path and, at the same time, it is adapted for swinging motion away from the aforesaid path when required. It is of the type which is adaptable for automatic entrances at grocery stores and the like and which is adapted to meet fire regulations requiring swinging-type entrances. At the same time, it provides a door which operates in a minimum space requirement without the normal hazards attendant with panels which swing only and do not slide. Generally speaking, the invention herein may be considered an improvement on the types of swinging panels disclosed in US. Patent Nos. 3,327,428 and 3,136,538.

In automatic door installations, it is desirable to have a sliding panel or door which will require a minimum of space and which will present minimum hazards to individuals passing therethrough. In the past there has come into wide use the well-known swinging panels which are adapted to swing open in response to a pedestrain Crossing over a pressure plate or the like. These swinging-type panels require much space in order for the swinging motion to.be accomplished and are quite hazardous to individuals who may be struck by the swinging panel when in close proximity thereto.

As a result, there has been developed sliding panels which will normally slide parallel with an existing fixed panel, so that the panel may be moved to and from the closed position without the aforesaid swinging motion and the dangers and the problems associated therewith. However, fire regulations generally require that such sliding doors also be adapted to swing outwardly in emergency situations. The prior art doors which are adapted for both swinging motion and sliding movement have a serious problem in that they are subject to sag, particularly during the swinging movement. In order to compensate for this sagging tendency, certain prior art devices have utilized extremely heavy, rigid structures to compensate therefor. However, these structures are less flexible, more expensive, and require greater operator force in order to move the panels during the sliding operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved swinging slide panel construction which overcomes the foregoing problems, which is relatively inexpensive of manufacture, and which is light in construction and easily assembled.

Briefly stated, this invention is for a swinging slide panel construction comprising a longitudinally extending track means for supporting a sliding panel thereon. It also includes carriage means mounted on the track means for reciprocal longitudinal traverse thereon. Operator "ice means are provided and operatively connected to the carriage means for reciprocating the carriage means on the track means at predetermined times. A suspension bar is connected near one end of the carriage means and depends downwardly therefrom at an angle of less than in a plane parallel with the direction of sliding movement. The invention also includes adjusting means for varying the aforesaid angle between the said suspension bar and the carriage means. The invention also includes a sliding panel having a vertically extending member along one side thereof, with the vertically extending member being adapted for attachment to the suspension bar for pivotal movement thereabout, whereby the panel is supported for longitudinal traverse along said track means and is adapted for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis, and whereby any sagging of the panel during swinging thereof can be compensated for by adjustment of the aforesaid adjusting means to vary said angle between the suspension bar and the carriage means.

Reference to the drawings will further explain the invention wherein like numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a generally front elevation view of the emhodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial generally horizontal sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial generally vertical sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3, showing the lower track and carriage means.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the upper carriage means and support bar.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the adjustment means for varying the angle between the support bar and the carriage means.

FIG. 8 is a partial prospective view, partially broken away, showing the lower carriage means.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, the invention includes a swinging panel 11 generally rectangular in side elevation view having generally 90 outside corner angles and swinging in the dotted line arc, and also adapted for sliding movement adjacent fixed panel 12.

Sliding panel 11 is generally supported by and depends from a carriage assembly generally designated by the numeral 13, which is operatively connected to operator arm 14, which in turn is connected to piston rod 15, which is connected to a piston mounted inside of operator cylinder 16. It is to be understood that operator 16 and piston rod 15 are of conventional design and are adapted for reciprocal movement with respect to each other by air or other fluid supplied from any convenient source at predetermined times.

A- suspension bar 20 is connected to near one end of carriage assembly 13 and depends downward therefrom at an angle of less than 90, as will be explained hereinafter. In the preferred embodiment, suspension bar 20 has attached to the lower end thereof a pivot block 21 for pivotal movement thereabout,

Sliding panel 11 includes a vertically extending member along one side thereof in the form of interlocked rail 22 which is adapted to receive therein suspension bar 20 and pivot block 21, and is connected to pivot block 21 by any convenient means, such as screws, bolts or the like.

Sliding panel 11 is supported at the lower end thereof for pivotal movement thereon by second carriage means in the form of lower carriage 25. Lower carriage 25 has attached thereto and support a pivot pin 26 which is fitted inside of the lower end of interlock rail 22, such that interlock rail 22 may pivot thereabont during swinging movement of sliding panel 11. Lower carriage 25 is provided with a pair of wheels 28 which fit inside of track means mounted in the lower end of fixed panel 12, as best shown in FIGS. and 8. Lower carriage 25 includes a lower guide block 27 which supports pivot pin 26 which fits inside of the lower end of interlock rail 22 for pivotal movement thereon. The opposite side of guide block 27 is connected to a pair of guide wheels 28 which fit inside of for running engagement with the downwardly facing channel shaped member 30 connected to and providing a lower track along the lower end of fixed panel 12. Lower carriage 25 is adapted to ride clear of threshold 31 immediately therebelow.

Referring now to FIG. 6 in particular, an exploded view of the upper carriage assembly 13 and suspension bar 20 is shown. Sliding panel 11 is shown as having a generally channel shaped interlock rail 22 at the rearward or pivot point side thereof and a vertically extending curved flexible seal 33 along the vertical swinging side thereof.

Interlocked rail 22 is adapted to receive downwardly thereinto pivot block 21 in the form of a thrust hearing which is attached to for pivotal movement about the lower end of suspension bar 20.

The upper end of suspension bar 20 has threaded therein at the upper end thereof bolt 36 which passes downwardly through horizontal member 37 as best shown in FIG. 7. The top end of suspension bar 20 is so cut that when it is assembled with horizontal member 37, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the angle between the long axes thereof is about 1 /2 less than a right angle. Thus, when suspension bar 20 and associated pivot block 21 are inserted inside of interlock rail 22 in the assembled condition shown in FIG. 2, there is created a pre-stress which tends to bias the swinging end of sliding panel 11 upward to thereby prevent sagging thereof during swinging movement of sliding panel 11. The amount of bias or prestressing imposed can be adjusted by the turning of tension adjustment Allen screw 43, which is threaded in a portion of horizontal member 37 and bears against the top end of suspension bar 20.

The upper carriage means of this invention is in the form of carriage assembly generally indicated by the numeral 13 and includes the aforesaid horizontal mem' ber 37 which has attached near each end thereof spacer blocks 46, each of which has connected thereto a pair of wheels 47, which are adapted to ride on guide rail 48.

In the non-swinging position of sliding panel 11, the top edge thereof is adapted to frictionally engage the lower side of carriage assembly 13. This frictional engagement is conveniently provided by longitudinally extending top interlock member 51 which is attached to the lower side of horizontal member 37 by any convenient means, such as screws, and is provided with a tongue and groove which is adapted to match with the tongue and groove of lower interlock member 52 which is attached to the upper edge of sliding panel 11 by any convenient means, such as screws or the like. The amount of friction between top interlock member 51 and lower interlock member 52 may be controlled by adjustable ball check 53 attached .to the lower side of lower interlock 52 and abutting against a portion of the tongue of top interlock 51 in the non-swinging position.

In the assembled condition, square upper spacer washer 38 abuts against the end of top interlock 51 and thereby is prevented from rotation with sliding panel 11 during the swinging movement thereof. Further, square lower spacer 40 abuts against the end of lower interlock 52 and is adapted for swinging movement therewith, with circular spacer washer 39 therebetween acting as a bearing.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in the non-swinging position of sliding panel 11, seal 33 abuts against adjacent fixed panel 55 which may be provided with a vertically extending elastomeric seal 56 to further effect the seal therebetween. In addition, the inward side of interlock rail 22 may also be provided with a similar elastomeric seal 57 which resiliently engages and seals with fixed panel 12. Similarly, fixed panel 12 may be provided with a similar seal 58, which resiliently engages the inside surface of sliding panel 11 to further effect sealing therebetween.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 4, operator cylinder 16 is shown mounted in operator housing 60, having an operator housing access panel 61 on one side thereof, which is attached thereto by any convenient means. Operator housing 60 includes a longitudinally extending flange portion 62 having a longitudinally extending slot therein through which operator arm 14 passes for connection to piston rod 15. Operator arm 14 is operatively connected to the aforesaid carriage assembly by being connected in any convenient manner to one end of horizontal member 37 as best shown in FIG. 2.

Horizontal member 37 is connected to spacer blocks 46 by means of carriage bolts 65. Spacer blocks 46 are in turn connected to wheels 47 by axle pins 66. Wheels 47 run on nylon coated guide rail 48 which has depending therefrom lower flange 68, which supports appropriate seal means 69, resiliently engaging the back side of top interlock member 51 as shown.

The sliding door assembly is initially assembled as shown in FIG. 6 and thereafter carriage assembly 13 and suspension bar 20 are mounted in the condition shown in the other figures, with suspension bar 20 passing downwardly through interlock rail 22, with interlock rail 22 being connected to pivot block 21 by any convenient means, such as screws or the like, whereby sliding panel 11 is supported relative to carriage assembly 13 in the aforesaid stressed condition.

Sliding panel 11 is adapted for longitudinal traverse along track 48 by supplying appropriate fluid to operator cylinder 16 in a conventional manner. When sliding panel 11 is to be swung open, pressure applied thereagainst causes pivotal movement as shown in FIG. 1. Sliding panel 11 pivots about suspension bar 20 at the upper end thereof and about pivot pin 26 at the lower end thereof. It sliding panel 11 has a tendency to sag too much or is biased upwardly too much by the aforesaid prestressing, an adjustment therefor can be made by turning on tension adjustment screw 43 to thereby vary the angle between suspension bar 20 and carriage assembly 13.

The height at which sliding panel 11 is supported may also be adjusted by adjusted by adjusting screws 70 which pass downwardly through the top side of horizontal member 37 and bear against pins 65, as best shown in FIG. 4.

The foregoing arrangement of applicants invention provides a sliding panel which is easy to assemble, simple of construction, lightweight in construction, and which provides ready adjustment means for not only controlling the upward bias provided to sliding panel 11 during swinging thereof, but also means for adjusting the height thereof.

Further modifications may be made in the invention as described.

What is claimed is:

1. A swinging slide panel construction comprising:

longitudinally extending upper tracks means for supporting a sliding panel thereon;

first carriage means mounted on said track means for reciprocal longitudinal traverse thereon;

operator means operatively connected to said carriage means for reciprocating said carriage means on said track means at predetermined times;

a suspension bar connected to near one end of said first carriage means and depending downwardly therefrom at an angle of less than said suspension bar including a pivot block attached near the lower end thereof for pivotal movement thereabout;

adjusting means operably connected to said suspension bar and said first carriage means for varying the angle therebetween;

a sliding panel having a vertically extending channel shaped member along one side thereof; said member being adapted to receive said suspension bar and said pivot block thereinto;

and means for securing said channel shaped member to said pivot block for pivotal movement therewith;

whereby said sliding panel is supported for longitudinal traverse along said first track means by operation of said operator means and is adapted for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis, which axis is generally coincident with the central axis of said suspension bar, and whereby any sagging of said sliding panel during swinging thereof can be compensated by adjustment of said adjusting means to vary said angle between said suspension bar and said first carriage means.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 including:

a fixed panel aligned generally parallel with said track means and adjacent said sliding panel, said fixed panel having a lower track along the lower edge thereof;

second carriage means mounted on said lower track for longitudinal traverse thereon;

said second carriage means having pivot means for connection to and pivotally supporting the lower end of said sliding panel.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said carriage means extends along a substantial portion of the top of said sliding panel;

and the top portion of said sliding panel frictionally abuts said carriage means in the non-swinging position of said sliding panel.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3 including:

a fixed panel aligned generally parallel with said first track means and adjacent said sliding panel, said fixed panel having a lower track along the lower edge thereof;

second carriage means mounted in said lower track for longitudinal traverse therein;

said second carriage means having pivot means for connection to and pivotally supporting the lower end of said sliding panel.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

said sliding panel includes a top frame member, which frame member forms an outside angle of 90 with said vertically extending channel shaped member;

whereby in the assembled condition said suspension bar is stressed to provide an upward bias to said sliding panel, to thereby control sagging of said sliding panel during the swinging thereof, which stressing can be controlled by adjustment of said adjusting means.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 5 including:

a bolt passing downwardly through said carriage means and threaded into the upper end of said suspension bar;

and said adjustment means includes a screw means longitudinally spaced apart from said bolt and connected to said carriage means with the lower point of said screw means being adapted to bias said suspension bar, whereby said angle between said carriage means and said suspension bar can be varied by turning said screw means.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 6 wherein:

said first carriage means includes wheels adapted for riding on said upper track and horizontal member operatively connected to said wheels;

and means for adjusting the height at which said horizontal member is supported relative to said wheels, whereby the height of said sliding panel can be varied 'by adjusting the last said adjusting means.

8. A swinging slide panel construction comprising:

longitudinally extending upper track means for supporting a sliding panel thereon;

first carriage means mounted on said track means for reciprocal longitudinal traverse thereon;

operator means operatively connected to said carriage means for reciprocating said carriage means on said track means at predetermined times;

a suspension bar connected to and suspended from said first carriage means by means of a bolt passing downwardly through said first carriage means and threaded into the upper end of said bar, said suspension bar having a pivot block attached near the lower end thereof for pivotal movement thereabout;

adjusting means operably connected to said suspension bar and said first carriage means for varying the angle therebetween, said adjusting means including a screw means longitudinally spaced apart from said bolt and connected to said carriage means, with the lower point of said screw means being adapted to bias said suspension bar, whereby said angle between said carriage means and said suspension bar can be varied by turning said screw means;

a sliding panel having a vertically extending channel shaped member along one side thereof; said member being adapted to receive said suspension bar and said pivot block thereinto;

and means for securing said channel shaped member to said pivot block for pivotal movement therewith;

whereby said sliding panel is supported for longitudinal traverse along said first track means by operation of said operator means and is adapted for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis, which axis is generally coincident with the central axis of said suspension bar, and where-by any sagging of said sliding panel during swinging thereof can be compensated by adjustment of said adjusting means to vary said angle between said suspension bar and said first carriage means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 782,139 2/1905 Jones 49177 3,136,538 6/1964 Dimmitt et al 49--177 X 3,300,897 1/ 1967 Wikkerink 49-177 X 3,327,428 6/1967 Horton et al 49-177 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner J. KARL BELL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

